Lenses

[Saab93Aero]

im looking to add to my gear, and i've been looking at

-Nikon Normal AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D
or
-Nikon Normal AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D


-Nikon Fisheye 10.5mm f/2.8G ED AF DX
or
-Nikon Fisheye AF Nikkor 16mm f/2.8D

Which ones would you guys reccomend?

and i need a new lens for shooting H.S. Basketball if anyone has any imput.

thanks with any help

[PAFirefighter11]

Whoa, having issues with posting too? lol...

I just got my 50 1.8 and I LOVE THIS LENS!! I was shooting with my ex g/f at her barn a few days ago and got some great shots in horrible lighting!

Here ya go... D2x, 50 1.8, ISO 800, Aperture priority, and I was between 1.8 to about 2.8 max for most shots:











And a few more I've taken with the 50 1.8 in the 1.5 weeks I've had it:











DOF on the 50 1.4 is too small to really justify purchasing it. Unless you like that ;-) But it's a great lens too.

[Chris_PA]

Get the new 50/1.4 AF-S

I'd rock the 16/2.8 over the FE

Neither or those lenses are particularly suited to basketball

[Saab93Aero]

Thanks for the quick replys.

Originally Posted by Chris_PA

Neither or those lenses are particularly suited to basketball

yea, i was saying these are 2 that iv'e been wanting, but also in need of a nice lense for basketball, any ideas?

[PAFirefighter11]

Honestly, just go get a 50 1.8 now. It's $109 brand new. Just do it. Don't think about it. You will love it. Just click here:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...kkor_50mm.html - $109.95 & Free shipping. Don't think about it!!!

For basketball.. 70-200 2.8 VR if you have the cash ;-) Where are you shooting from?

[Saab93Aero]

Originally Posted by HibachiZ28

Honestly, just go get a 50 1.8 now.Don't think about it!!!

Where are you shooting from?

haha im sitting here flipping back and forth between tst and b&h and my kart is filled. haha but it will be a day or so..


im not sure where ill be sitting, but i get a media pass, so it should be full range

[sisforsurfing]

I've shot basketball with the 50/1.8. Not ideal but it works, and for the price you can't beat it. The 50 f1.4 AF-S will likely focus much faster (and I hope it's better all around than the current AF-D lens) but will also cost 4x the price. You ideally want a f2 or faster lens when shooting indoor basketball... Canon's 85mm f1.8 USM is ideal but Nikon has no equivalent, so the 50/1.8 works on a budget.

The fisheye is a really specialized lens and will probably stay in your bag most of the time unless you shoot lots of skateboarding. I say just stick with the 50 f1.8 and if it can't do what you need upgrade.

[PAFirefighter11]

Added some more 50 1.8 shots I took. They are nothing special AT ALL, I was just messing with the lens lol.

I'd find out where you are shooting from first. Find out where the press pass gets you. If you're going to be right on the court, I'd say you need 2 bodies and 2 lenses. If you don't want to spend that much, you may look at the 18-200 VR, though it's not a crazy fast lens, it's a good walk-around.

[Saab93Aero]

Originally Posted by sisforsurfing

The fisheye is a really specialized lens and will probably stay in your bag most of the time unless you shoot lots of skateboarding.

yea i've seen some ppl say this in other forums too, but i was also thinking it would be sick with the HD video in the D90 i just grabbed.

[sisforsurfing]

I don't really think you need that much gear to shoot high school ball. I shot college ball for my paper with a D70 and 50/1.8 for two years. Sitting under the net the 75mm equiv. lens is ideal, even if focusing is a bit slow (that's why i like the Canon 85/1.8). And with high school lighting you'll need to be shooting at f1.8 a lot more than you'd like!

edit: Yeah, fisheye with video is cool. Do whatever you think will make you happiest, because unless your paying your bills with it that's what matters. And if you buy used you can just sell it in a month for the same price if you're not liking it.

[PAFirefighter11]

Do me a fav.. if you haven't already, join this other forum I am on: http://www.nikoncafe.com. Introduce yourself in the Introductions section. Then go over into Lens Lust and post up there. From my research it looks like an 85 1.8 is your best bet as well as a 70-200 2.8 like I said earlier, but it may not be fast enough in some gyms.

[PAFirefighter11]

Here's the Nikon 85 1.8:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...kkor_85mm.html

Can't use it on your D40 though. Gotta use the D90

[Saab93Aero]

Originally Posted by HibachiZ28

Do me a fav.. if you haven't already, join this other forum I am on: http://www.nikoncafe.com.

Done. Thanks for all the quick reply's and help.

[PAFirefighter11]

No prob, man. Nikon Cafe has saved my ass 329049023040293 times. The guys and gals there are so nice and know their ****! I've saved tons of $ buying and selling used gear too. You don't have access to that until you've been there 30 days and have at least 50 good posts. They are strict on this, but it's a great way to get people involved and give you some incentive.

[TROLL]

I used my 80-200 2.8 AF-S for high school and college basketball almost exclusively from out on the corner of the baseline, but I did use a 50 1.4 every once in a while from under the basket. If you want a more affordable version look at the Sigma 70-200 AF-S... its pretty damn good, especially for the priced you can probably find one used for.
For all around use I'd recommend the 50 1.8 though... image quality is just as good, but focusing is slower. Its also much smaller and lighter than the 1.4 version which is a good thing. For most people the faster focusing doesn't justify the price... they assume image quality is better but it really isnt.
If you want a fisheye for your DX cameras, you'll want the 10.5... thats what its made for. The 16mm is for film and FX cameras so it wont do you much good.